Early markers of angiogenesis and ischemia during bowel conduit neovascularization

Background Bowel flaps are a good and reliable method to restore the continuity of the aerodigestive tract. Radiated fields, contaminated recipient sites, or depleted recipient vessels may increase the risk for ischemic injury after transfer. During ischemic events, we believe that bowel conduits with serosa have a delayed neovascularization process at its new recipient site. We conducted an ischemia/reperfusion murine model to understand the difference among bowel conduits with and without serosa. Materials and Methods Two groups of rats were compared: control group (jejunal conduit with serosa) and a target group (jejunal conduit without serosa). These conduits were harvested from the peritoneal cavity and transferred into a subcutaneous pocket. After 72 hours of transfer and pedicle ligation, histological changes related to ischemia/reperfusion were assessed. In addition, tissue markers of angiogenesis (CD34), ischemia (lactate dehydrogenase [LDH]), and inflammation (interleukin [IL]-1β and IL-6) were analyzed. Results Two groups (n = 20) of male rats were analyzed. Histology showed intact jejunal mucosa in the target group. The control group showed decreased number of mucin, globet cells, decreased height, and fragmentation of villi with the absence of intestinal glands. Markers of angiogenesis (CD34) were higher in the target group. In addition, markers of ischemia (LDH) (p = 0.0045) and inflammation (IL-1b, p = 0.0008, and IL-6, p = 0.0008) were significantly lower in the target group as compared with the control group. Conclusions In circumstances in which the recipient site does not offer an adequate and healthy bed or a vascular insult occurs, bowel flaps with less amount of serosa may be able to neovascularize faster thereby increasing its chances of survival

Rural–urban disparities in the incidence and treatment intensity of periodontal disease among patients with diabetes

BackgroundDiabetes threatens population health, especially in rural areas. Diabetes and periodontal diseases have a bidirectional relationship. A persistence of rural–urban disparities in diabetes may indicate a rural–urban difference in periodontal disease among patients with diabetes; however, the evidence is lacking. This retrospective study aimed to investigate rural–urban discrepancies in the incidence and treatment intensity of periodontal disease among patients who were newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in the year 2010.MethodsThe present study was a retrospective cohort design, with two study samples: patients with type 2 diabetes and those who were further diagnosed with periodontal disease. The data sources included the 2010 Diabetes Mellitus Health Database at the patient level, the National Geographic Information Standardization Platform and the Department of Statistics, Ministry of Health and Welfare in Taiwan at the township level. Two dependent variables were a time-to-event outcome for periodontal disease among patients with type 2 diabetes and the treatment intensity measured for patients who were further diagnosed with periodontal disease. The key independent variables are two dummy variables, representing rural and suburban areas, with urban areas as the reference group. The Cox and Poisson regression models were applied for analyses.ResultsOf 68,365 qualified patients, 49% of them had periodontal disease within 10 years after patients were diagnosed with diabetes. Compared to urban patients with diabetes, rural (HR = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.75–0.91) and suburban patients (HR = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.83–0.89) had a lower incidence of periodontal disease. Among 33,612 patients with periodontal disease, rural patients received less treatment intensity of dental care (Rural: RR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.83, 0.92; suburban: RR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.92, 0.95) than urban patients.ConclusionGiven the underutilization of dental care among rural patients with diabetes, a low incidence of periodontal disease indicates potentially undiagnosed periodontal disease, and low treatment intensity signals potentially unmet dental needs. Our findings provide a potential explanation for the persistence of rural–urban disparities in poor diabetes outcomes. Policy interventions to enhance the likelihood of identifying periodontal disease at the early stage for proper treatment would ease the burden of diabetes care and narrow rural–urban discrepancies in diabetes outcomes

Glechoma longituba (Lamiaceae) alleviates apoptosis in calcium oxalate-induced oxidative stress in kidney proximal tubule epithelial cell line, HK-2

Purpose: To investigate the effects of Glechoma longituba on calcium oxalate (CaOx)-induced stress in HK-2 cells as a possible treatment strategy for nephrolithiasis (kidney stones).Methods: Human kidney HK-2 cells were treated with CaOx and Glechoma longituba at different concentrations. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured. Cell apoptosis and viability were assessed by flow cytometry and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays, respectively, while apoptosis-related proteins were determined using western blotting. The levels of the nuclear factorerythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and NADPH-quinone-oxidoreductase 1 (NQO-1) genes were evaluated using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Using lentivirus, Nrf2 was knocked down in HK-2 cells, and this was confirmed by both qRT-PCR and western blotting. Scramble and si-Nrf2 transfected HK-2 cells were treated with CaOx and Glechoma longituba, and ROS levels and apoptosis were also assessed.Results: CaOx significantly increased the levels of ROS, LDH and MDA, while Glechoma longituba pretreatment attenuated these elevations in a dose-dependent manner. CaOx treatment increased cell apoptosis and decreased cell viability (p < 0.05), while Glechoma longituba pre-treatment abolished these effects in a dose-dependent manner. Glechoma longituba pre-treatment significantly upregulated the expressions of Nrf2, HO-1 and NQO-1 (p < 0.05). In HK-2 cells, Si-Nrf-2 attenuated the effects of Glechoma longituba pre-treatment on cell oxidative stress and apoptosis induced by CaOx.Conclusion: Glechoma longituba pre-treatment attenuates cell apoptosis and oxidative stress induced by CaOx via Nrf2/HO-1 signalling pathway. Thus, the plant is a potential source of agents for the treatment of nephrolithiasis.Keywords: Glechoma longituba, Nephrolithiasis, Nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2, Oxidative stress, Apoptosi

(2-{[1-(Pyridin-2-yl)ethyl­idene]amino­meth­yl}pyridine-κ3 N,N′,N′′)bis­(thio­cyanato-κN)zinc

The complete mol­ecule of the title mononuclear zinc(II) complex, [Zn(NCS)2(C13H13N3)], is generated by crystallographic twofold symmetry, with the metal atom lying on the rotation axis. The pendant methyl group of the ligand is statistically disordered over two sites. The Zn2+ cation is coordinated by the N,N′,N′′-tridentate Schiff base ligand, and by two thio­cyanate N atoms, forming a distorted ZnN5 trigonal–bipyramidal geometry

Genomics and proteomics of immune modulatory effects of a butanol fraction of echinacea purpurea in human dendritic cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Echinacea </it>spp. extracts and the derived phytocompounds have been shown to induce specific immune cell activities and are popularly used as food supplements or nutraceuticals for immuno-modulatory functions. Dendritic cells (DCs), the most potent antigen presenting cells, play an important role in both innate and adaptive immunities. In this study, we investigated the specific and differential gene expression in human immature DCs (iDCs) in response to treatment with a butanol fraction containing defined bioactive phytocompounds extracted from stems and leaves of <it>Echinacea purpurea</it>, that we denoted [BF/S+L/Ep].</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Affymetrix DNA microarray results showed significant up regulation of specific genes for cytokines (IL-8, IL-1β, and IL-18) and chemokines (CXCL 2, CCL 5, and CCL 2) within 4 h after [BF/S+L/Ep] treatment of iDCs. Bioinformatics analysis of genes expressed in [BF/S+L/Ep]-treated DCs revealed a key-signaling network involving a number of immune-modulatory molecules leading to the activation of a downstream molecule, adenylate cyclase 8. Proteomic analysis showed increased expression of antioxidant and cytoskeletal proteins after treatment with [BF/S+L/Ep] and cichoric acid.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study provides information on candidate target molecules and molecular signaling mechanisms for future systematic research into the immune-modulatory activities of an important traditional medicinal herb and its derived phytocompounds.</p

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Taiwan

We found a virulent closely related clone (Panton-Valentine leukocidin–positive, SCCmec V:ST59) of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in inpatients and outpatients in Taiwan. The isolates were found mostly in wounds but were also detected in blood, ear, respiratory, and other specimens; all were susceptible to ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole